One thing that did just hit me is this: I've been trying to do some of the things mentioned in this book because I already read one of the Cycle system chapters online and the friend who recommended this book also already gave me some insight into it. One of the things that this book mentioned in this chapter is to keep everything in a single "database" (as the book calls it), but I just realized that I haven't been doing that.

I have a notebook that I keep my tasks and daily notes in, but I still end up with times where I don't have my notebook with me and I'll write down ideas on my phone. So now I technically have 2 places to look. Also anything that I don't have time for right now I put in my "backlog" on my PC, so that's a 3rd space I might look. I haven't read anything about how to deal with tasks I know I need/want to do sometime, but not right now. I'm sure I'll get to that.

Also even on my phone I have a different app for tracking my notes and my habits. My habits probably need to go into my notebook as well to keep things simple.

@ryuslash

These are important challenges and there's no single way to do things, but a few thoughts come to mind.

1. Keep your planner with you

Key to the Cycle System is always having your day planner with you. If you're using a physical book, then if you go somewhere you know you'll have new tasks, take it with you.

Ideally your book is very small, so even if you're going to the supermarket, you can take it with you.

2. Always start simple, then only add complexity once you've exhausted all other options

Resist the urge to have multiple places or structures for your notes. You may eventually need more complexity due to constraints, but you should resist that urge if at all possible.

3. Phones suck

I hate phones for this. I never found any tools where editing text on a phone made sense.

The only exception to this rule is that I sometimes treat my phone like a memo recorder from the 1980s or 1990s. I'll write myself short messages, or record short memos.

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@ryuslash

If the context is work, then always be in the habit of taking your planner with you to every meeting. Daily standup, bring it. Weekly status report meeting, bring it. Colleague calls you over to ask a question, bring it.

If for some reason you don't have it with you, my suggestion is always ask the other person to send you a message to whatever system you use to capture notes.

If you have a system like Github or similar and you don't have your planner, ask them to please make a ticket.

if not, then ask them to send you an email.

Once you get the message from Gitlab/Emai/whatever you need to transcribe it to your day planner.

You should also make a habit of always checking these other sources as part of your morning routine in Cycle. That means instead of just checking yesterday, you're also going to check your email, Gitlab, etc. for issues and ingest them then.

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@serge@babka.social Thanks for these tips :)

1. Keep your planner with you

I do try this :) I have a notebook that fits in my bag that I take most places. The problem so far lies with 2 things:

1. Places where I might have ideas might be the shower... I didn't buy a notebook that works well under water :) Also when I'm at home, but my notebook is upstairs in my office and I'm cleaning up downstairs in the kitchen.
2. Even though I carry it with me all the time, I'm not used to taking out my notebook yet, so I end up having my notebook available, but still don't use it. Also I'm not good at writing while I don't have a flat surface to write it on. I tried writing in the car once, did not go very well :)

1. Always start simple, then only add complexity once you've exhausted all other options

Yeah you told me this one before :) I try! The only things I've added so far that I didn't specifically read are a couple of numbers to just let me keep track of some extra things, they have no bearing on the process itself, and the smallest possible visual distinction between tasks and notes so that I can easily tell what's what.

1. Phones suck

Yeah... but it's really the only thing that I have with me almost all of the time.

That means instead of just checking yesterday, you're also going to check your email, Gitlab, etc. for issues and ingest them then.

Yeah I need to improve this. Although the first chapter mentions that he plans his day before checking his email... I'm not sure how that fits together when email is also a source of things to do?